Analog to Digital Transition FAQ

Congress has changed the date to June 12, 2009. About 1/3 of the television stations have applied to the FCC for permission to go ahead with the transition on February 17. Although the FCC chairman has stated that they will not let all stations in a given market terminate their analog broadcasts, it is very likely that many stations will be broadcasting only digital signals after February 17.

Digital and High Definition are not equivalent terms. All High Definition signals are Digital. But not all Digital signals are High Definition. The mandated changeover is to Digital, not to High Definition.

• Satellite TV users already receive digital signals.
  
  
• In September, 2007, the FCC finalized the rules for cable companies relative to the digital changeover. Cable companies are required to provide all local broadcasts in analog, if they provide any analog service. Some companies will choose to go to all digital and could require you to rent or purchase a "digital cable set-top box."

• If you have digital TV(s), you do not have to do anything. A TV is digital if it has a digital tuner (ATSC). Digital TVs should have a label; for example, "Digital Tuner." Note: "Digital Ready" does not mean it has a digital tuner.
  
  One way to tell if a TV is digital is to look at the remote control. A remote for a digital TV will have a period '.' or a dash '-' with the numbers so that one can enter 7.1, 7.2 (7-1, 7-2) etc.
  
  
• If you will continue to use an analog TV, then you will need a Set Top Converter box, a device that converts the digital signal to an analog signal. Converter boxes will be discussed below.
  

• Converter Box Coupons
  The Government established a coupon program to defray the changeover costs to consumers. Each household can receive up to two coupons worth $40 each. The coupons can be applied toward the purchase price of "eligible" converters. The eligible converters range in price form $40 to $70.
  
  You can apply for coupons at https://www.dtv2009.gov/
  
  

  Added 1/25: The following notice is on the government coupon site:
  
  Important: The TV Converter Box Coupon Program has reached its funding ceiling. However, coupon requests from eligible households will be filled as funds from expiring coupons become available. If you would like to apply for a coupon today and are eligible, you will be placed on a waiting list and will receive coupons an a first-come-first-served basis as funds from expiring coupons become available. Coupons will expire within 90 days or the date they are mailed

  
  
  Although you may need the converter boxes for your RV, the program is for households that receive over-the-air transmissions. Thus, one should be careful in filling out the application form. You don't want to mention the cable or satellite TV you use at home. You must provide a home address, not a business address. (Note: I know of only one person that was, seemingly, turned down because he noted that he had cable service.)
  
  
• Which is the right converter to buy?
  The coupons will come with a list of "eligible" converter boxes. To use the coupons, you must purchase converters from that list.
  
  Not all converter boxes are created equally. Some have RF "pass-through," which allows analog signals to pass through the converter box without being changed. This is particularly useful now, while stations are broadcasting both digital and analog signals. The pass-through should allow analog cable signals to pass through. It will also allow low-power (LP) stations, who are exempt from the digital conversion, to still be viewed on a legacy analog television. (There are hundreds of these transmitters, and some cities will remain almost exclusively analog because the whole town is served by LP transmitters.)
  
  Not all remote controls are equal. Some will allow you to control features, such as on/off and volume of the television, as well as change the channels on the converter box.
  
  Let's note here that your TV will be set to channel 3 or 4, depending on switch setting on the converter, and the converter box will be used to change the channels. It is the converter box that has the digital tuner. (Also, all of the converter boxes have analog Video and Stereo Audio outputs that can feed an external V/A input on a vast majority of analog receivers.)
  
  
• Installing the converter box in an RV
  Most of the converter boxes will require 120 VAC - the eligible boxes were designed for households, not RVs. There is one on the list specifically designed for 12V.
  
  The connection sequence is:
  
  Antenna to distribution switch, if your rig has one.
  Distribution switch to converter.
  Converter to television.
  
  antenna -> distribution switch -> converter -> TV
  
  
  

  Note: Apparently, there is a great temptation to connect the converted box to the cable leading directly from the antenna. In most cases, not only will this not work it could damage the converter box. This cable carries power to the built-in amplifier.

  
  
  Do you see the problem, if the converter box doesn't have analog pass-through? There is only one cable that runs from the TV to the distribution switch. How does the VCR or DVD signal reach the television? There are workarounds, but the analog pass through feature simplifies the connections.
  
  
• Multiple Televisions
  Unless you want to watch the same channel on all TVs, you need a converter box for each television. The setup for each TV would be the same as described above.